bamboo or bust

nothing exemplifies what's old is new again more than the west embracing bamboo as a building material made for the 21st century. the same sustainable qualities that have made bamboo an interior design darling from kitchenware to flooring has prompted a maui company to host an international design competition to promote bamboo's versatility beyond the traditional hut.

the winners will be announced soon and a few designs have the potential to make the leap from daydreaming doodles to livable dwelling. my favorite family home finalist is this bamboo house submitted by a design group in china. another residential favorite may have been too fanciful to make the cut but i love how it integrated a green roof into its cylindrical design.

bamboo house

cylinder house

designs are not just limited to residential but also include ideas for affordable housing, emergency shelter and even treehouses. bamboo technologies, which is hosting the competition, specializes in prefab bamboo buildings for folks seeking a more affordable and eco-friendly housing alternative in the islands. many of the designs are in the balinese style but do take a peek at the flex house if the post about the breezehouse piqued your interest in modern prefab housing.